Comfrey is a hardy and resilient herb that can be grown in full sun or partial shade with good drainage. Young plants should be watered until they are established and mature, especially during prolonged dry spells. The soil should be amended with plenty of water. Comfrey grows best in well-draining, compost-rich soils that are kept moist, but it can tolerate dry soils.
Propagation can be done through seed, division, or separation. Sow comfrey seeds in fall or early spring directly in the garden. Plant in spring, keeping the soil moist until the first leaves appear. In warmer tropical areas, it can be planted in the wet season.
Comfrey plants love moist, well-drained soil, and should be watered frequently, especially in the first year after planting. Maintain moderate soil moisture, especially when plants are young. Once established, comfrey outcompetes weeds and does not have any reported insect or disease issues.
📹 Comfrey Benefits and Uses
As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases MISC ITEMS WE USE (Affiliate Links): Mother Earth Products: (Save …
How long do comfrey plants last?
Comfrey plants have been observed to survive for over 20 years and are known to require a well-draining garden space in order to establish a deep root system. They flourish in full sunlight on deep soil, although they can also tolerate partial shade. They are capable of growing on the majority of soil types, with the exception of those that are shallow and chalky. The requisite number of comfrey plants is contingent upon the dimensions of the plot, the intended purpose of the plant, and its growth patterns on the site.
Does comfrey need full sun?
Comfrey is a hardy perennial herb that thrives in partial to full sun in moist, fertile soil. It can be propagated through root cuttings or crown divisions and can be planted throughout the growing season, but it is best established in the spring. Comfrey outcompetes weeds and has no reported insect or disease issues in Utah. Some leaves and roots are harvested after the first year of growth. However, high doses or excessive long-term ingestion may cause liver toxicity, and those with known liver issues should consult a doctor before ingesting comfrey.
There are two well-known varieties: common comfrey (true comfrey) and Russian comfrey (or Bocking 14). Common comfrey has cream or purple flowers, while Russian comfrey features blue or violet flowers. Comfrey grows best in moist, fertile soil rich in organic matter, with a pH ranging from 6. 0 to 7. 0.
Should comfrey be cut back?
This guide provides a seasonal pruning guide for Comfrey plants. It starts with spring, when the plant starts to grow and new shoots emerge. During summer, it’s important to trim overgrown or crowded areas to maintain shape and health. Avoid heavy pruning to avoid stress during high temperatures. As fall approaches, prepare the Comfrey for dormancy by removing dead or diseased foliage and keeping things neat. The guide emphasizes the importance of pruning in the right season to maintain the plant’s health and growth.
How often do you water comfrey?
Comfrey plants thrive with even soil moisture and moderate water levels. They can tolerate drought but prefer a moderate level. Young plants should be kept moist but not soggy. Water mature plants when the top inch or two dry out. Comfrey is hardy to extreme temperatures and humidity, as long as adequate soil moisture is maintained. No commercial fertilizer is needed, but regular organic amendments like compost can be beneficial.
Why was comfrey banned?
Comfrey, a popular topical medication, is likely unsafe when taken by mouth due to its pyrrolizidine alkaloids (PAs), which can cause liver, lung, and cancer damage. The FDA has recommended the removal of all comfrey products taken by mouth. Comfrey is potentially safe when applied to unbroken skin in small amounts for less than six weeks, but its poisonous chemicals can pass through the skin, making it potentially unsafe to use on broken skin or apply large amounts for more than six weeks.
Is Russian comfrey medicinal?
Comfrey root, a plant native to Britain, has been used for over 2, 000 years in traditional medicine for its anti-inflammatory, analgesic, and astringent properties. The plant, part of the Boraginacea family, is native to Europe and spreads into Central Asia and Western Siberia. The name “comfrey” is derived from its application, with various names focusing on uniting and firming. The Greek term “symphyton” is derived from “I grow together”, while “solidago” is derived from “I make firm”. The word “comfrey” has evolved from Middle English “comferi”, Old French cumfirie, and vulgar Latin “confervia”, meaning “to boil together”.
When to plant Russian comfrey?
Comfrey is a perennial wildflower that grows along riverbanks and grasslands in its native habitat. Its flowers attract bees and other pollinators, making it a welcome addition to a wildflower garden. The plant grows slightly taller than it is wide and has large, pointed, dark green, aromatic leaves up to 8 inches long. Comfrey has a vigorous growth rate and can be planted at any time when the soil is not frozen. It requires very little maintenance and can be propagated horizontally in March or April, keeping the soil consistently moist but not soggy until growth is visible.
What is Russian comfrey good for?
Comfrey is a tea used for various health issues, including upset stomach, ulcers, heavy menstrual periods, diarrhea, bloody urine, persistent cough, painful breathing, bronchitis, cancer, and chest pain. It is also used as a gargle for gum disease and sore throat. Studies have shown that Comfrey has low-dose health risks, and its saponins from Symphytum officinale L have been found to have a phyto-pharmacology similar to other saponins.
Why is my comfrey dying?
Wilting or drooping leaves on a Comfrey plant indicate neglect, dehydration, or pests. Yellowing or browning leaves may indicate watering issues or nutrient deficiencies. Stunted growth or spots may indicate poor soil, lighting, or fungal problems. These signs can range from dehydration to overwatering, pest infestations, or a sunburn session gone wrong. Yellowing or browning leaves are not a new aesthetic but a signal of watering mishaps or nutrient deficiencies.
What should you not do with comfrey?
Comfrey, a plant used to treat wounds and reduce inflammation, is not recommended for oral consumption due to its toxic substances that can be absorbed by the skin. Even creams and ointments should be used under doctor’s supervision and not on open wounds or broken skin. Comfrey roots and leaves contain allantoin, which helps new skin cells grow and maintains skin health. Comfrey ointments have been used to heal bruises, pulled muscles, ligaments, fractures, sprains, strains, and osteoarthritis.
However, it contains toxic substances called pyrrolizidine alkaloids that can damage the liver and potentially cause death. Comfrey is no longer sold in the U. S., except in creams or ointments, and is banned in the UK, Australia, Canada, and Germany.
How to take care of a comfrey plant?
Comfrey plants require moist, well-drained soil for their growth, especially in the first year after planting. Older plants should be watered regularly during dry summers. Mulch can help maintain soil moisture and save watering. Fertilizing comfrey is essential, especially if the plant grows in the same spot for many years. Universal fertiliser, like Plantura All Purpose Plant Food, can be used in spring or mature compost to meet the plant’s needs. This long-lasting fertilizer is free from animal products and is suitable for various garden and balcony plants, promoting healthy growth and active soil life.
📹 How to Propagate, Grow and Use Comfrey
Comfrey is one of the most valuable plants on our little homestead. If you aren’t familiar with this incredible plant it is time that I …
For more information visit our post How to Propagate, Grow and Use Comfrey theprovidentprepper.org/how-to-propagate-grow-and-use-comfrey/ ***As promised, here are a couple of links for Tom Bartel: You can watch Tom’s free article workshop at training.growfoodwell.com/thrive/ ***For those of you looking for Bocking 14 or Russian Comfrey (sterile variety so that the seeds don’t make your yard into one giant comfrey patch), I recommend getting it from Seeds for Generations bit.ly/3lQXXlG You may also be interested in reading more at The Provident Prepper: Biointensive Victory Gardens: Higher Yields with Less Work theprovidentprepper.org/biointensive-victory-gardens-higher-yields-with-less-work/ How to Create a Survival Food Forest in Your Own Backyard theprovidentprepper.org/how-to-create-a-survival-food-forest-in-your-own-backyard/ Inexpensive Root Cellars: 13 Literally Cool Ideas to Chill With theprovidentprepper.org/inexpensive-root-cellars-13-literally-cool-ideas-to-chill-with/ Chillin’ in Our DIY Buried Freezer Root Cellar theprovidentprepper.org/chillin-in-our-diy-buried-freezer-root-cellar/ Poor Man’s Greenhouse – A Guide to Winter Seed Sowing theprovidentprepper.org/poor-mans-greenhouse-a-guide-to-winter-seed-sowing/ Thanks for being part of the solution!
I bought a tiny plant 5-6 years ago,lol. I do love the plant, mine is not sterile, I now have it everywhere. A few years ago I was out watering plants and I noticed that my comfrey plant, (since I live out in the middle of nowhere, )I figured maybe wildlife was eating it, lol, what I was finally able to discover was, that when my dog wasn’t feeling well, she’d eat comfrey, it never hurt her. Thank you for sharing! Blessings
A friend gifted me a Comfrey plant 4 years ago, which I have kept going in a pot (not being a long history gardner lol) Recently I discovered one of my rabbits had possibly been attacked by another animal. He was down to skin and bone and had an eye infection and my prognosis was not good. I put him in a hutch to “wind down” with water and feed, and put some dried leaf Comfrey in his water and also left a branch of fruitless Mulberry, expecting to find his life gone by morning. He was only drinking water the first few days. It’s been about two weeks and he just slephed off a half dollar size scab from under his chin – his neck had been torn open and I had not noticed. The neck is bald but beautifully closed. He’s back to his sweet self and gaining weight . I believe it was the Comfey. 💯
Some things I’ve done with comfrey.. Made a salve with coconut oil. We use it on wounds, sore muscles and using it on my husband’s leg (recently sprained it) Cut the tip of my finger to the bone, used the Comfrey salve and red light therapy. It healed in just a few days. Had a goat get a serious eye injury. The eye swelled up to over twice it’s normal size. Couldn’t get a vet to come look at it. Thought I was going to have to put her down when infection started coming out heavily and she was spinning in circles. Started feeding her comfrey and lemon balm leaves…LOTS of them. (Other herbs weren’t helping). Not only did the eye heal, but is back to normal size and she has some sight in it. I now have new plants started with plans to start more. It’s interesting that we are told people shouldn’t consume comfrey and yet animals eat it like candy with no issues. Makes you wonder, doesn’t it?
Out here in the Australian outback, the soil is essentially just red clay and has almost no nutrients. Since i started growing comfrey, the area around it is the only place that i can see a darkening of the soil, even after years of composting and buying soil, the sun is just so powerful in the summer that it sterilizes the earth unless there is an already established tree hanging over it.
I KNOW THIS about comfrey: Once you plant that stuff, you will NEVER get rid of it, you will have it forever and it spreads like crazy!! Good thing that its so useful!!! I also use it as a green compost/mulch, it has a huge amount of nutrients to feed other plants. Keep on cutting and it keeps growing. Its WONDERFUL!!
I bought a single comfrey plant from Azure Standard years ago and have been splitting it and planting it all over our homestead. If you’re patient you can divide one plant into many over the years, making it very economical. It’s under our fruit trees to bring up the deep minerals in the soil, and more recently around the perimeter of our garden. My hope is that it will deter grass creep into our vegetable garden and also will be in close proximity for chop and drop to enrich the soil. I’m really hoping that works cuz once you plant it you’re not getting rid of it 😂 We will also use it for chickens and medicinal purposes. Thanks for the article!
Love this article! I am self-studying herbalism, and I have always wanted to have comfrey. I will be growing it this spring! This is timely because just last night my daughter burned her arm in the kitchen… I reached for my frankincense and lavender oil roller ball, as well as my honey/comfrey ointment. This morning the welt has receded by over half and has no pain. Amazing!
I have an abundance of comfrey growing along the river at my farm. I’ve eaten many leaves while working in my garden. I LOVE them. I did research on herbal properties vs. commercial pharmaceutical for my naturopathic certification. which stated that it was the equivalence of 25 bushels of comfrey root were given to the rats to indicate liver toxicity. I never ate that much, hahaha.
BTW it’s Bocking 14 comfrey (not blocking.) It’s named after the place in England where research on the 20 different comfrey varieties was done. Found this while googling – “the term “Bocking” refers to a village subdistrict, in Braintree district, Essex in England. The term was applied to comfrey by Lawrence D. Hills who chose it during his research simply because it was the location of his research.” Both Bocking 4 and Bocking 14 are non spreading. Everyone can do their own research by googling, but yes Bocking 14 sounds the best to use it for multiple uses. I think Bocking 4 is used more for live stock feed only, though I am no expert. One can purchase the regular comfrey that is very invasive, so it IS very important to make sure you are getting Bocking 14 comfrey. Thanks for educating people on that!
I have comfrey now but, it took me forever to find some. No nurseries around here carry it. I finally found some online and got these little tiny root pieces and thought they would never grow but they did of course. I have now given roots to my daughter in law. So glad I have it, now I have to get some mullien and other medicinal herbs.
When I was small we had a little garden. We considered comfrey as a weed then, which was hard to get rid of, because it was almost impossible to dig out all the roots and it was always growing back. But I remember my mom making a syrup from those roots we were trying to get rid of as good medicine for everything.
I wholly support everything said here. I’m a big fan of what we call in the U.K. as the “Chelsea chop”. It’s as good as composting. I rescued my crop from the side of a footpath in the village where there was a Roman settlement – they would have known the value of it. I use it to shelter other plants from serious summer heat, which was valuable this year..didn’t know chuks love it. Thank you. What an enjoyable article.
I just found you and thoroughly enjoyed this narrative and photos! I’m a victory garden prepper of sorts and planted comfrey in a circle around each of my fruit trees, and one at the end of each of my raised garden beds (4 x 10 each) to make it easy to chop and drop all summer long 🙂 My chickens however, are not interested until the barren end of summer when there is not much else fresh green to eat. They free range among the comfrey and haven’t destroyed it after 5 years. My medicinal use is for a salve and also I make a poultice whenever I’ve strained a muscle. It really works to relieve the pain and heal faster!
I am glad to hear from you about Comfrey. I have split one plant into three years ago. Then last year I split one into 20. It’s so good to hear how it will enrich the soil it is in. That’s so good to hear. I’ve learned about the manure tea of comfrey and nettles. But it was good to hear so much about it. I do use it in my salve (comfrey, yarrow, plantain, calendula and something else I’ve forgotten. Thanks again.
You can also eat it, I put young leaves in my smoothies or salads. Don’t be put off by what they say about it being dangerous. It used be sold here in Australia years ago in tablet form. It was the Naturopaths’ go to herb for many things. Just another natural item put on the banned list because it was SO good at treating so many ailments, THEY couldn’t make money from it, so banned it.
Hi there, thank you for enlighten me about Comfrey. I have lots of them. Some with purple and some with white flowers. I use them as mulching or just spreading shredded leaves around my plants. I also use them as an accelerator for my compost. I too enjoy perusal beneficial pollinators hoping from one comfrey flower to another. I have just learned that you can make a balm with comfrey too. This is my next task. Thank you. Yacoob from UK.
When I moved into my apartment, I planted a tiny comfrey plant from my old home – just a tiny plant in a plastic cup. I only have a small strip of flowerbed in front of my apartment and wow! That comfrey plant grew to 3ftx3ft the next summer. I’m going to have to take it out, as it completely overtook my nice plants. It doesn’t get full sun, so that may be why it developed a white powdery mold.
I have comfrey in my garden that was given to me by grandmother. It is not sterile because I have small plants that pop up around it so it must be seeding itself. It is very difficult to get rid of, especially if you let it grow to full size. I have used the root on sprains and bumps and it takes the swelling down. I have cut the leaves and placed them over my garden beds in the fall. I think next spring I will cut the leaves and put them around my young plants.
Propagating comfrey can be as simple as chucking a section of root (even a couple of inches) where you want it to grow, even the smallest piece of root that you wouldn’t think has a chance will often grow. This will, of course, be slower than deliberately planting properly cut up root cuttings, but if you want low effort and don’t mind it taking a while, you can just chuck bits of root around. I’m looking to plant a row of comfrey along a swale that is up-slope from my greenhouse, then I can cut and drop the leaves into the swale ditch, which fills with water when I get enough rain and slowly seeps under the greenhouse beds (which are raised beds with a hügelkultur base). Hopefully, this will help to pass nutrients from deep in the soil under my greenhouse beds.
Comfrey is the bone knitting herb as well as a contact healer, internally and externally. While it’s not recommended to ingest comfrey, I know others who have had no problems. I would be cautious about how much I took internally to make sure there isn’t an overdose issue with minerals. When placed over an injury, like a sprain, it eliminated bruising by breaking up the dead red blood cells so the body can carry them away and eliminate them. It also reduces swelling. I was visiting my sister 25 years ago 1700 miles away by plane and fell off of a four-foot landing one morning breaking my ankle. I went into shock at the time it happened and heard all the ripping, tearing of the ligaments as well as the loud pop. My sister packed my ankle in a comfrey poultice for two days while elevated changing the poultice every 8-12 hours. I had to get on a plane to travel home again after two days, and when we took all the dressings off to get ready to go, there was absolutely no bruising or swelling. I could bear a little weight on it and somehow made it home. After I arrived home, a little bruising showed up after breaking open some of the blood vessels below the surface with hobbling around on it in the airport, but I stayed off of it at home wheeling around the house in an office chair keeping it wrapped in an elastic bandage. lol What a fiasco, but I never went to the Dr. over it and it healed up all on its own after that. I adore my comfrey plants!!! I will be dividing them up again this year and planting them all around in the edible forest plan I’m creating.
Years ago, when my kids were young, and we had a hobby farm, I dried Comfrey and crumbled/ground it, along with many other dehydrated veggies, and used it all in soups, stews, and any other dishes I could get it into. My family was eating very healthy………didn’t suspect a thing, and it didn’t hurt a bit! I wish it grew well in pots indoors because I would have one in my apartment right now if I could. I have three worm farms in my apartment and I would use the leaves and flowers in them as food and bedding. I would also use it for myself to eat in my different dishes…..and tea! I Would love to hear if somebody knows how to grow up well indoors! Thank you so much for the article!
My very best friend was an asthmatic. She could not go to barbques or enter a room where people smoked etc. she slept with her machine for help. She used to go to the gym. Jack Lalane’s. One day she finished exercising and on her way out she ran into Jack himself. He stopped her. Confirmed that she was whizzing and told her to drink comfrey tea and marched on. No hello no good bye. She had no idea what comfrey was. Where to get it etc. it took her dropping into the local health store and she was now making comfrey tea. She did not know how much to drink so she took a thermos full to work each day and drank it all. Soon no more whizzing. No more asthma. For years and years she drank that tea and one day she started to whizz again and realized she had stopped drinking her tea. So needles to say… she went right back to it. Lived to be 96 in terrific health!
I’ve used it my whole life. I know it makes an injury heal faster. If used to help a bone injury that injury doesn’t ache years later in bad weather. And I’ve also heard, from my dad it can CURE stomach ulcers. I’ve recommended it to a older gentleman who complained of stomach problems, but also to do his own research. He told me he ate a little bit in his eggs in the morning for 2 days in a row and on the third day he was cutting some of it up for his breakfast eggs and he just stopped because he realized his stomach hasn’t felt that good in 30 years. Or so he told me, and I believed him, his whole disposition was way more upbeat and genuinely seemed more happy. I’m hoping to learn more uses from you. Oh, we gather the fresh leaves and let them soak in a large mouth jar in rubbing alcohol for 3 days minimum before use then either rub the liquid on the injured area or soak a clean rag and ring it out over the jar till its mildly damp to slightly wet and bandage it on the injured area plus I’ve put on my legs wen I had “growing pains” when I was very young and it always seemed to help🙂 thanks
I bought some Bocking 14 about 10 years ago and planted it in different places at the edge of my garden and lawn. I just dug up 2 plants, replanted a piece in the original spaces and then planted 33 other pieces of those original plants at the edge of my gardens and the side of my house. I want it to stop the encroachment but I also will use it for chop and drop and Jadam fertilizer tea. The new planted areas will keep me from having to chop it and put it in a wheel barrow to spread it in my garden. I make Jadam (Korean) comfrey tea by chopping up a bunch of comfrey and stuffing it into a 32 gallon black garbage can. I pack the comfrey tight up to about 3/4 of the garbage can. I throw in some leaf mold and sea salt, wait about three months and mix the solution 1 part tea to 10 parts water. You can keep adding the comfrey and water. It’s freeze proof over the winter. It works and you will never run out of the stuff. The Russian Bocking 14’s NPK is 1.8 – 0.5 – 7. Buying it was one of the smartest things I’ve ever done for my garden and my back.
Your article is fabulous! I wrecked my left rotator cuff in a stupid fall and had to undergo mayor reconstructive surgery to reattach my biceps, several tendons and ligaments almost a month ago and am still not permitted to use my shoulder! Thankfully, there is almost no pain now. I am very interested in acquiring some miracle comfrey to speed up my healing and full recovery. Thank you, thank you, thank you!!!
Great article – Here is the Southeast I struggled with the “simple planting”. Just putting a root in the ground that is mostly clay and not watering regularly did not work out well. I did a trial and found that if you put in a well established area with good soil and constant water then it will root, but with most plants you need to baby it the first year until that tap root can get deep in the ground. Maybe not everywhere but surely here in the south of US. Thanks again for the informative article.
Thanks for responding! Of course! I couldn’t even imagine letting a bunny in the garden. I rescue domestic bunnies and only keep them inside. I have a lot of woodchucks on my property so growing a garden is a challenge. They even eat more than bunnies. I appreciate all of your sharing. It’s great to see how your entire family has grown and shared together.
I watched a article. The Nature Path related a story. A farmer in Australia’s cow was deathly sick. His vet recommended he put the cow down. Farmer decided if the cow was going to die. It would not hurt to start feeding the cow comfrey. After a few days the cow was not dead but was better. Long story short. The cow recovered.
I have used comfrey leaves on the back with a layer of cotton cloth over the leaves then saran wrap over the leaves, hot wool blanket (cut to size as in Foments) to lay over the leaves, making sure the hot pieces of wool are squeezed out tight use rubber gloves, then tested on the back to make sure they are comfortable ask the person. As soon as they are cooled down repeat until the person has had pain relief. Usually, three treatments are sufficient to relax the muscles. This was done at a Doctors request.
We have grown comfrey in our garden for the last 20 years. We don’t have the non-speading kind but my husband keeps it in check with the lawnmower and his potato fork. The pollnators do love it! I have made salve with it. I’ve been told by people I respect that you should never use comfrey on an open wound as there is a compound in comfrey that can travel through your blood stream and affect your liver. I make plantain salve to use where there is a question about comfrey. Thank you for this post.
When we moved to our property in 1974, there was a gorgeous Comfrey plant behind the shop area. When we got rabbits, I’d feed some leaves to the rabbits; and, yep, the chickens loved the Comfrey. Over the years, that Comfrey died out — I have no idea how long it grew on the property before we bought the land. About 10 or so years later, I heard and read health alerts about using Comfrey — I don’t remember what the worries were about, back then. …. I’d like to get some more Comfrey.
When I was in sixth grade I got a cut on one of my fingers deep real bad my dad put a comfrey salve on it and each time I took the bandage off add more it was so cool of perusal my flesh the dermis and epidermis grow back and no that right there turn me into using herbs more which I was raised as a kid anyway
I started it from seeds. I put them in slightly moist soil in a lidded plastic container in the fridge to stratify the seeds and mistakenly I forgot about them for a year, my wife cleans the fridge and she asked me what they were. Well, I tried planting them anyway and 3 came up! I’m growing them larger in pots until they go in the ground.
This is a great article! Thank you for a joyful, informative, straight forward article with great pictures. I have been looking for a plant that I can plant to feed our chickens that is a perennial, can do well in shade and sun, and can be used without allowing it to flower. We had to cut down our apple trees because it was attracting wasps too close to our house and they were making their way through the siding INSIDE our house. So this leafy fodder is absolutely perfect. Thank you so much! I am subscribing to your website right now. God bless you!
For some time now I have had severe muscle weakness in my upper thighs after a hip replacement… almost like a partial paralysis… an old injury, of course. I am hoping the healing properties of comfrey will be part of the answer in healing this condition. Cannot get comfrey plants fast enough. Thank you for this encouragement.
Amazing article on comfrey — best one so far… In the Chinese 5 Elements, comfrey carries a Water vibration. On your article, I heard you mention that you prepare a tincture using the dried comfrey leaves. However, I believe that the greatest benefit comfrey gives is when it is used externally / topically as an herbal compress / poultice / salve. Being Water vibration, the nutrients, i.e., allantoin, minerals, etc. will be easily absorbed through the skin, so there is no need to take it internally. The other herb that does this well is mullein (Verbascum thapsus), which also carries a Water vibration. If you research comfrey, some research articles say that it is risky to take a lot of comfrey internally, so it is better to be on the safe side. For animals, I don’t believe there is any issue with this because they have a different chemistry than humans.
❤️I have not tried comfrey but I will now! I’m thinking it would be fantastic on our riverbank slope. It’s extremely steep and we fight erosion. It is also south facing an very sunny. Thank you for sharing this with us! I’m loving your gardening tips! Something we all need to be learning about at this time! Very valuable info to file away for future needs!
A very good thorough article on comfrey. I saw your this article on my feed this evening and decided to watch, glad I did. It’s one of my favorite plants in the garden. But if I may, I need to let you know that you have the wrong name for the comfrey you mentioned. It actually “BOCKING 14”, not blocking. An easy thing to happen with words that are so similar. Hoping this info will make it easier for people to have the success when they go online to search for more info or sources to purchase plants. Having the correct name also will alliviate any plant name confusion as well. BTW, I heard someone just a few days ago call it blocking too, but thought it might be a one off and I guess it is an easy thing to do because they are similar words. Anyway, I hope this info will help. I’ve grew Bocking 14 Comfrey in my Portland Oregon garden for decades and it was been well worth having. It’s especially nice not having to worry about seedlings popping up. The bumble bees can feast away that way too and when it is done I cut the stems off and compost them. Evidently there is one or maybe 2 other bocking varieties around. I saw one that was Bocking #4, but am not real sure about the reliablity of that info. Might be worth searching out though. Again, nice job on the overview and info on this wonderful herb. ~Patty~
Wouldn’t weeks old comfrey bucket water be mostly anaerobic microbioata in the culture by that point? I’d use the juice when closing the season and microbioata don’t matter much and dump around but not under the key zones, let the mycelium deal with it, daddy’s too busy stacking love on his single comfrey queen 👸🏻 she is gorgeous and huge and I love her so much! She gets extra pee and coffee grounds, and boy does that plant take a lot!!! Later on I’ll feed worms with it lol and make Diamond level fertilizer for my inside plants Thx for the article it’s so cool!!!!
Many Thxs again, regarding your use of comfrey for erosion control, my question is when it’s time to harvest in that particular area that you’re using it for erosion control do you take up the entire plant when it has matured and replant it or will the plant come back year after year, or do you just trim the plant back a little bit and leave it to continue serving as the erosion control?
You will need to check with agriculture before trying to send plants/plant parts in the mail. For states like California where I live you have to have a license and inspections done to do so. When I worked in the commercial greenhouse it was there in Utah and they had to jump hoops to send some stuff to Cali.
Oh my goodness I just found (and subscribed) to your website. I’ve been binge perusal for 3 hours! Mostly food storage articles. I ordered a comfrey salve from a homesteader off of Etsy. It will deliver in a couple of days. After perusal this I will try to find comfrey at my local garden center and grow it myself. Do you think I will find it at this time of year? Thanks for all you do.
This has been on YouTube almost 2 1/2 years and just now popped up for me! It is probably too late for comments to be read…BUT just in case ~ why does my comfrey always get a powdery mildew? It doesn’t seem to bother the bees and I still chop and compost the leaves. But it’s just not very pretty! Any suggestions?? Thanks!🌱
some decades ago i planted a comfrey rootstock near my garden; my parent had it growing alover her yard & loved it. anyway my husband looks at this herb as a weed of hatred, such as a thistle ; i have no success in showing him that indigenas peoples use this to help ourselves, plants an as a ground cover. so his plan is to remove if he cant dig it out he’ll pour gasoline on it. i’m praying the little hmong woman next door will get after him! she wants him to plant watermelons; so now soon he’s going to ask her to plant the watermelons for herself. we are that close as neighbors,i hope that this will be a mighty learning experience this summer!:thanksdoc:🙂😀
So, I listened to ur counsels on this Comfrey plant. You spoke of making a tinture, only once. That suggests to me, that this plant can be an edible wild plant, or as you say, a cultivated wild medicinal. You feed it to your chickens, & rabbits too. So why is it not spoken of as an edible plant as well. In my area, of Indiana, of America, there is a lot of it growing locally in th wild. My growing area, would suffer because it is too small an area, for me to plant it in my garden. You only covered a very small amount of talk on it medicinal qualities. In your next article, please elaborate more on this plants good qualities. Thank you.
I always use shears but I wouldn’t say they are prickly! I certainly don’t need gloves. I Love comfrey but have a hard time keeping enough for my family. It seems that everyone I meet needs it and has never heard of it! I just met a man tonight that had a knee replacement, geese, I will tell him about it but my tincture isn’t ready and I only have Bocking 14 in starter cups. No one talks about the different cultivars. There 3 most used ones from what I can find on line. Bocking 4, Bocking 14 & Common. They all have different uses. People on you tube aren’t educating themselves of the different types, but giving advice! I hope they aren’t selling any when they don’t even know the different compositions of each.
I enjoy comfrey very much. I have several around my yard. Unfortunately my comfrey grows really nice in shade. I put it in full sun and my Colorado sun completely wilts them down to nothing. It recovers but I’ve had to move those plants because even morning sun is too much . In the shade they grow wide and multiply beautifully. Don’t grow in full sun.
I’d love to have a few sprigs of the Bocking #4 if it’s possible to send me a little, it would be greatly appreciated. I’ve seen other articles on this subject but didn’t know where to buy, but after reading through the comments I found the 2 places to purchase from. I’m a newbie prepper/gardener in zone 8 (Mississippi) and really can’t afford the prices I’ve seen on both sites plus shipping. It’s me and my 16 yr old grandson, we’re both on SSI. Food here is outrageously high but I’m buying up anything that I can with food stamps to get our stock up. Please let me know if you can help me out, thanks a bunch and thanks for sharing all this awesome info with us!
Add following point for the whole picture about comfrey. 1 when your chicken peck comfrey that actually indicate severe lack of greens provided to chicken, normally because they gets locked in area that has no greens at all. Chicken prefer mustard veges than grass tip, choose rather eat grass tip than comfrey. 2 Comfrey has toxic substances that can cause severe liver damage and even death. You should never take comfrey by mouth. The toxic substances in comfrey can be absorbed by the skin. Even creams and ointments should be used for only a short time, and only under a doctor’s supervision. 3 ornamental value. Comfrey looks good in summer, however, it wilts in mild cold days, turns ugly black in winter for at least 4 months.
Comfrey is probably better in your neighbours’ garden, because she will soon have too much and she will be only too happy to give you baskets-full of it. The roots do grow deep, but they also spread fast and far. Cutting won’t controle it and if you try digging it up, if you leave a tiny thread-like bit of root it will grow. You are warned.
Please help!! I planted comfrey in our garden and now it is coming up EVERYWHERE in our garden. I cannot keep up with it…I dig it up but it grows right back and continues to spread to areas where I do not want it! How do I get rid of this comfrey?? We have an organic garden so do not use chemicals.
Just to clarify something: the only way an element can be created is through nuclear fusion or fission, so when you talk about cutting this back and adding it to a compost or fertilizer, just know that it’s not creating potassium. The only place it can get mass is from the ground, water, or air. It will get mostly carbon and some nitrogen from the air, but potassium will be from the ground. In other words, growing this, cutting it, and then using it as compost doesn’t add back any more potassium than is already in the ground to begin with.
Pyrrolizidine alkaloids are responsible for comfreys production of hepatotoxicity. Liver toxicity is associated with consuming this plant or its extracts. In 2001, the United States Food and Drug Administration issued a ban of comfrey products marketed for internal use, and a warning label for those intended for external use.